Abstract: A micro-optical inspection arrangement comprises micro-focusing elements which are composite bodies consisting of a main part and an additional part and which have a reference focal length. The main parts are provided as micro-focusing element preforms, and the additional parts are formed from one or more functional coatings. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a micro-optical inspection arrangement and to a micro-optical displaying arrangement comprising the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention and a microstructure arrangement, in particular a moiré magnification arrangement and a modulo magnification arrangement. The invention also relates to security elements and data carriers that have the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a security element (1), to a security element (1) obtainable by the method according to the invention, to transfer materials having the security elements according to the invention, and to objects of value secured with the security elements according to the invention. The security element (1) according to the invention has two functional layers (12, 22) which are bonded together by means of a resist layer (30). The resist layer (30) has a pattern which is employed to generate a congruent pattern in the first functional layer (12). Then the pattern of the resist layer (30), and thus also of the first functional layer (12), is exactly reproduced in the second functional layer (22). This is achieved by bonding the second functional layer (22) in the form of the pattern of the resist layer (30). The non-bonded areas of the second functional layer (22) are removed, thereby forming negative writing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (20) for security papers, value documents and the like having a diffraction pattern that exhibits an embossed relief pattern (24, 26) and a coating layer (28, 32) that increases the visibility of the diffraction effect of the embossed relief pattern (24, 26). According to the present invention, the relief pattern (24, 26) is formed on the basis of a cholesteric liquid crystalline material (24) and the coating layer (28, 32) includes a reflective (28) and/or a high-index layer (32).

Abstract: A method for producing a microstructure on a carrier by: (a) manufacturing a donor foil by forming an embossed structure with elevations and depressions in a first foil material and applying a transfer layer to the embossed structure, (b) manufacturing an acceptor foil by applying an adhesive layer to a second foil material, (c) laminating the donor foil and the acceptor foil by means of the adhesive layer, the transfer layer on the elevations of the embossed structure bonding to the adhesive layer, and (d) transferring the bonded regions of the transfer layer to the acceptor foil by separating the donor foil and the acceptor foil from each other, thereby forming in the acceptor foil a first microstructure from the transferred regions of the transfer layer, and/or forming in the donor foil a second microstructure complementary to the first microstructure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dewatering screen for manufacturing paper having multi-level watermarks, having a carrier mold (54) that exhibits, in a fractional region, a multi-level relief (30) in the form of the watermark to be produced. According to the present invention, it is provided that the multi-level relief is formed by an injection-molded, perforated (40) watermark insert (30).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a micropattern on a substrate (22), in which a substrate (22) is provided with a relief pattern (26, 28) that exhibits elevations (26) and depressions (28), and in which the elevations (26) and/or depressions (26) are arranged in the form of the desired micropattern, and with a printing tool, an imprint material (30; 34) is transferred to the relief pattern (26, 28), the viscosity of the imprint material (30; 34) being chosen such that the imprint material (30; 34) is selectively transferred either substantially only onto the elevations (26) or substantially only into the depressions (28) of the relief pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (30) for securing valuable articles, having a first layer (13), composed of cholesteric liquid crystal material, that is present at least in some areas, a second layer (14), composed of liquid crystal material, that is present at least in some areas, and a further layer (22), having a machine-readable feature, that is present at least in some areas and that is covered at least in some areas by the first and second layer composed of liquid crystal material.

Abstract: A micro-optical inspection arrangement comprises micro-focusing elements which are composite bodies consisting of a main part and an additional part and which have a reference focal length. The main parts are provided as micro-focusing element preforms, and the additional parts are formed from one or more functional coatings. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a micro-optical inspection arrangement and to a micro-optical displaying arrangement comprising the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention and a microstructure arrangement, in particular a moiré magnification arrangement and a modulo magnification arrangement. The invention also relates to security elements and data carriers that have the micro-optical inspection arrangement according to the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing a microstructure on a carrier by: (a) manufacturing a donor foil by forming an embossed structure with elevations and depressions in a first foil material and applying a transfer layer to the embossed structure, (b) manufacturing an acceptor foil by applying an adhesive layer to a second foil material, (c) laminating the donor foil and the acceptor foil by means of the adhesive layer, the transfer layer on the elevations of the embossed structure bonding to the adhesive layer, and (d) transferring the bonded regions of the transfer layer to the acceptor foil by separating the donor foil and the acceptor foil from each other, thereby forming in the acceptor foil a first microstructure from the transferred regions of the transfer layer, and/or forming in the donor foil a second microstructure complementary to the first microstructure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dewatering screen for manufacturing paper having multi-level watermarks, having a carrier mold (54) that exhibits, in a fractional region, a multi-level relief (30) in the form of the watermark to be produced. According to the present invention, it is provided that the multi-level relief is formed by an injection-molded, perforated (40) watermark insert (30).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a security element (1), to a security element (1) obtainable by the method according to the invention, to transfer materials having the security elements according to the invention, and to objects of value secured with the security elements according to the invention. The security element (1) according to the invention has two functional layers (12, 22) which are bonded together by means of a resist layer (30). The resist layer (30) has a pattern which is employed to generate a congruent pattern in the first functional layer (12). Then the pattern of the resist layer (30), and thus also of the first functional layer (12), is exactly reproduced in the second functional layer (22). This is achieved by bonding the second functional layer (22) in the form of the pattern of the resist layer (30). The non-bonded areas of the second functional layer (22) are removed, thereby forming negative writing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a micropattern on a substrate (22), in which a substrate (22) is provided with a relief pattern (26, 28) that exhibits elevations (26) and depressions (28), and in which the elevations (26) and/or depressions (26) are arranged in the form of the desired micropattern, and with a printing tool, an imprint material (30; 34) is transferred to the relief pattern (26, 28), the viscosity of the imprint material (30; 34) being chosen such that the imprint material (30; 34) is selectively transferred either substantially only onto the elevations (26) or substantially only into the depressions (28) of the relief pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foil material for transfer to a target substrate, and methods for manufacturing such a foil material. In a method according to the present invention, a plastic substrate foil (32) is provided that is suitable for aligning liquid crystal material. To the substrate foil (32) is discontiguously applied a layer (34) comprising a liquid crystal material that is aligned.

Abstract: A security element for securing value documents has a first light-polarizing layer that is present at least in some areas and includes a cholesteric liquid crystal material, that selectively reflects light having a predetermined circular polarization, and that selectively reflects light of a firs wavelength range in a first reflection direction and light of a second wavelength range having a second, different reflection direction. A second light-polarizing layer is present at least in some areas and selectively reflects light having the opposite circular polarization to the predetermined circular polarization and selectively reflects light of the first and second wavelength range in the first and second reflection direction, respectively. A semi-transparent filter layer on which the first and second light-polarizing layer are stacked, absorbs light from the visible spectral range and transmits light from the first and/or second wavelength range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (20) for security papers, value documents and the like having a diffraction pattern that exhibits an embossed relief pattern (24, 26) and a coating layer (28, 32) that increases the visibility of the diffraction effect of the embossed relief pattern (24, 26). According to the present invention, the relief pattern (24, 26) is formed on the basis of a cholesteric liquid crystalline material (24) and the coating layer (28, 32) includes a reflective (28) and/or a high-index layer (32).

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-ply security paper for manufacturing security or value documents, such as banknotes, identification cards and the like. Into a first paper ply (52) is introduced an endless security element (54) that is freely accessible on at least one side of the paper ply (52). The first paper ply (52) is covered on the freely accessible side of the security element (54) by a second paper ply (56), and the second paper ply (56) exhibits one or more openings (58) in the region of the security element (54).

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element (30) for securing valuables. Said element comprises at least one at least partial first layer (13) from a cholesteric liquid-crystalline material, an at least partial second layer (14) from a liquid-crystal material, and an at least partial additional layer (22) having a machine-readable feature that is at least partially covered by the first and second layer from the liquid-crystalline material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (20) for securing security papers, value documents and the like, having a substrate (22). According to the present invention, the substrate (22) is provided with an authenticating mark (24, 26) that, in transmitted light, imparts a first optical impression and, in reflected light, against a predefined and easily accessible background, imparts a second optical impression that differs significantly from the first optical impression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element for securing value documents, having a first light-polarizing layer (64) that is present at least in some areas and comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material, that selectively reflects light having a predetermined circular polarization, and that selectively reflects light of a first wavelength range in a first reflection direction and light of a second wavelength range having a second, different reflection direction, having a second light-polarizing layer (66) that is present at least in some areas and selectively reflects light having the opposite circular polarization to the predetermined circular polarization and that selectively reflects light of the first and second wavelength range in the first and second reflection direction, respectively, and having a semi-transparent filter layer (62) on which the first and second light-polarizing layer (64, 66) are stacked.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer material for transfer to a target substrate, and methods for manufacturing such a transfer material. In a method according to the present invention, a plastic substrate foil (32) is provided, an effect layer (34) is applied to the substrate foil (32), a transfer assist layer (36) is applied to the entire surface of the effect layer (34) and the substrate foil (32) is applied, the adhesion of the transfer assist layer (36) to the substrate foil (32) being less than to the effect layer (34). Then an adhesive layer (38) is applied for transferring the formed layered composite to the target substrate (35).